Plug connector



Match 19, 1946. J. B. MILLER ETAL PLUG CONNECTOR y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 23, 1942 FIGJ.

FIGZ.

, FIGS.

. INVENTUM,

0M A T7' ORNE YS BYV March 19, 1946. J. B. MILLER ETAL 2,396,872

` PLUG CONNECTOR Filed March 25, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 I 3027 ,as

INVENTORS l JA MES B, M/L L ER .f1/34H55 h'. @SVM/60M BY l MA rrp/mens 'UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE- PLUG coNNc'roa ration of Missouri Application March 23, v1943, Serial No. 435,316 10 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) invention pertains to plug connectors for making separable connections between lengths of exible cable or the like. More particularly,

the invention pertains to such connectors as are provided with locking or latching devices for securing two complementary connectors together when mutually engaged.

One of the objects of this invention is toI provide such a connector with latching means whereby two connectors may be quickly and easily engaged and latched together so as to'prevent their being pulled apart but, at the same time,

permitting them to be. unlatched and separated without-dimculty.

Another object is to provide such connectors with latching means securely anchored to -the cable so as to avoid putting any excessive pulling stress upon parts oi the connector.

Connectors of this type are used toa considerable extent in military operations for establishing iield. Under such circumstances it is desirable to provide securing ,means lto prevent the connectors being pulled apart under severe conditions. Such cables may be made up in considerable lengths, sometimes as much as a quarter of a mile. Again, under some circumstancesv the cables must be draggedalong the ground and over such obstacles as may be encountered. It is evident that such handling may put a severe tensile strain upon the cable and the connectors.

Another object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a connector with such latching or securing means which will be strong enough to withstand a heavy pull and which are securely anchored so that the pull comes upon the cable itself rather than upon the body of the connector.

Another object of -this invention is to provide such a connector with latching means of improved construction and arrangement such that the latch is securely held in interlocking engagement and resiliently held against disengagement.

Further objects will appear from the following description of certain specific embodiments of the invention.

In accordance with the principle of this invention, a connector is provided having one or more plug-socket terminals so arranged as to be `engageable with complementary terminals in a similar complementary connector. 'Ihese terminals are embedded in the rubber-like body of the connector by means of a mounting permitting a v body being formed upon the cable and securely anchored thereto. The arrangement ofthe latching means with reference to the plug-socket terminals is such that the latching means are in condition or alignment to be securely interlocked when the mutually engaging terminals are in their normal alignment. Furthermore, the arrangement is such that when two complementary connectors are to be engaged, the plug-socket terminals are engaged first, after which the relative positions of the two complementary con-v nectors must he shifted in order to bring the\ latching means into position for engagement. J By such shifting, the already engaged terminals are forced out of their normal alignment againstv the resilient resistance of the rubber-like body. Accordingly, when the latching means have been finally brought to position for interlocking engagement, the connectors may be released so that lthe resiliencegf the bodies brings the' terminals n the latching means in interlocking engagement.

In the accompanying drawings two speciiic embodiments have been selected for illustration, although many other arrangements may be employed. A In said drawings.

Figure 1 is a. longitudinal sectional View of a connector embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a. right-hand end viewl of Figure l. Figure 3 is a perspective detail showing latch pins of a'pair of complementary connectors.

Figure v4 is a. longitudinal section of a connector illustrating another embodiment of theinvention.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of Figure 4. Figure 6 isa right-hand end view of Figure 4. Figure 'I is an enlarged perspective View showing the structure of the cable I, and

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the method of securing the strain-bushing to the cable.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates a iiexible cable which is to be provided with one or more connectors so that another such cable may be connected thereto. The cable I may have any number of conductors. That selected for illustration in the drawings has four conductors. The cable I is preferably provided with a rubber outside sheath in a well-known manner. Molded on the end ofthe cable I is a resilient body 2 of rubber or similar flexible material.

Plug-socketterminals 3 are mounted in the connector by being imbedded in the body 2. These terminals may be either plugs or sockets.

. the term plug-socket being employed here to terminals in the body. The'terminals l may be arranged in any'suitable pattern, in end view as seen in Figure 2. However, it is often desirable 'that all connectors which are-to be used interchangeably, and also' both connectors on opposite ends oi the cable I whereV that cable has two connectors, have the same terminal pattern so that `they may be interchangeable and it will never be necessary to change a long cable endfor-end in order to make a connection.

In the embodiment of Figures l-3 a latch pin 5 is mounted in a. sleeve B having a rearwardly extending portion 1. This sleeve is imbedded in the body 2 so as to be securely anchored therein.

vWhere the cable I is provided with tension members such as-cords 8, these are preferably secured tothe portion 1 so as to transmit any pull 'on the A'sleeve to these tension members of the cable. The pin i may be secured to the sleeve 8 in any suitable manner as by means of a pin S.

In Figure 3 the pin Ii is shown in perspective. as is also the pin 5' of the complementary connector. In the following, the same reference numerals, primed, will be applied to various parts of the complementary pin as are applied to the pin 5. This pin is cut transversely to provide 'two faces I0 and II. both of these faces are planes and pass through the axis of the pin. However, they are angularly displaced from one another so as to provide therebetween a latching shoulder I2. The two pins are shown in Figure 3 in the same positions with respect to rotation about their axes as they will have when in interlocking engagement. When in such engagement the face III' is in engagement with the face II, the face II' is in engagement with 'the face I0, and the two shoulbody 2 so as to provide secure anchorage for the i In the embodiment shown In order to do this the complementary connectors must be brought into such relation to each other with respect to rotation about their axes that their latch pins S and 5 will be in the relative positions indicated in Figure 3. When in this position the faces I0 and I0' are angular to each other, and the two latch pins interfere when the two connectors are moved toward each other. Accordingly, the two connectors must be rotated relatively to each other in such a manner that, as seen in Figure 3, the' pin 5 rotates counterclockwise and the pin 5' clockwise until the faces It and I0 come into parallel relation with each other. In order to do this the terminals -3 must be moved out of their normal alignment against the resilient resistance of the rubber body in which they are embedded. When the faces I0 and I0 have been brought into parallel relation they may be slipped past each other by pushing the two connectors together; At the same time each plug terminal 3 moves into its complementary socket terminal. When the shoulders I2 .and I2 have cleared each other, the resilience of the rubber body will cause the two connectors to return to normal alignment by a rotary movement which brings said shoulders I2 and I2 into latching engagement with each other- In order to disconnect the two connectors, or course, the reverse procedure must be carried out.

The sleeve 8 provides a guide for the complementary latch pin 5' to guide it into engagement with the pin 5 and to retain it in alignment when engaged. In molding the sleeve 6 in the body 2, a separator 3i, of paper or other suitable material, may be positioned between the outer end of the sleeve-and the surrounding rubber to prevent adhesion of the rubber to this part of the sleeve. This frees the sleeve partly from the body so as to render it easier to rotate relatively to the body in order to engage the pins 5 and 5.

Just prior to the nal movement which carries the shoulders I2 and I2 clear of each other, circular beads 20, formed on the end faces of the two connectors, come into engagement with eachother, and these are compressed during the rlnal movement toward each other so as to provide a water seal; At the same time an upstanding collar 2i, which is formed around each of the plug terminals 3, moves into a complementary recess 22 around the socket terminal so as to form an additional seal around each pair of terminals.

Many -of these cable units are used to set up phonetic circuits .for military communications.

In such cases it is oftentdesirable to have circuit ders -I2 and I2' are in engagement with each other. 'Ihese two shoulders are interlocked so to prevent endwise separation of thev two pins. The plane I3, indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, is an axialplane angularly. midway between the faces I0 and I I. This plane is also indicated in dotted line in Figure 2.

As may be seen from Figure 2, the alignment of the pin 5 with respect to the terminals 3 is such that when a complementary connector of identical construction is engaged and moved into final locking engagement, the alignment of the 'complementary terminals will be identical with that of the terminals 3 shown in Figure 2, while the alignment of the pin 5 will be such as to be interlocked with the pin 5. y

In Aorder to engage two complementary connectors such as shown inY Figures 1 and 2, the

terminals 3 are first engaged with each other. 75 they accessories such as loading coils, condenser-s, and the like assembled with the unit. In the structure shown in Figure 1, such a loading coil as-A sembly is shown at I4 and may or may not have associated therewith condensers I5, Figure 4, or other accessories. One or more of the terminals 3 may be connected by conductors I 6 to these accessories. nected in any suitable manner to the conductors`23 of the cable I. These circuit accessories are permanently connected and embeddedin the body 2 so that their` relation to the circuit and the terminals 3 is made permanent. The rearwardly extending portions 'I of the sleeve 6 extend past these accessories in a rearward direction or toward the cable so as to be anchored in the body 2 at such a portion thereof as to avoid any liability of stress due to a pull on the latch pin 5 being placed upon the accessories Il and I5, or upon that part of the body 2 in which are embedded. Accordingly, these acces- The accessories may also be consories and their connections are protected from all such stresses.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6 the terminals 3 maybe arranged and secured in the body 2 in the same manner as described for Figure l, and the accessories I6 and I may also be'similarly mounted. In this embodiment, however, the latchingmeans are in the form of hook elements I'I engageable by studs i8 on .the complementary connector. They elements Il and I8 are mounted on a ring I9 which surrounds the body 2 at its outer end. The elements I'I and I 8 and the ring I9 areconnected to a rearwardly extending'yoke 24, which is embedded in the -body 2 and extends rearwardly beyond `the accessories I4 and I5 so as to be anchored therebeyond lin the manner described for the portion I of Figure 1. In the arrangement shown, each connector is provided with two hooks l1 and two studs I8. In this case, also, the alignment of these latching elements, as shown in Figure 6, is such that when in interlocking engagement the elements 3 of the two complementary connectors are also in `normal alignment. Accordingly, in order to engage the latching means, the terminals must be forcedy out of their normal alignment and the 'resiliency of the body in restoring them to normal alignment brings the latching elements into their nal alignment for interlocking engagement.

In order to anchor the yoke 24 to the cable I, a strain-bushing 25 is formed with a reduced portion 26 adapted to seat in an opening in the end of the yoke 24, as shown in Figure'fi. The other end of the ybushing is threaded as indicated at 21, and this threaded portion is slit by a plurality of longitudinal slots 28. 'Ihis bushing is rst seated in the yoke and then the end of the cable is slipped through the bushing from the rear. The wiresv 'which reenforce the cable and take up endwise tension thereon are usually arranged as shown in Figure 7. After passing the cable through the bushing 25, the wires 8 are separated into groups and the diierent groups passed through the slots 28, as shown in Figure 8, after which a clamping washer 29 is placed around thethreaded portion of the bushing and so as to rest upon the wires 8, and a clamping nut 3B is. screwed onto the threads 2'1 so as to clamp the washer 29 rmly against the wires 8. This, therefore, provides a secure anchorage for the cable to the yoke 24 so that any pull on the latching devices will be transmitted directly to the cable without straining any of the intermediate parts molded in the body 2.

It will be seen, therefore, that this invention provides a connector in which-the resilient body is active to retain the latching devices in enclaims. It is obvious, furthermore, that various changes in the details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the ingention, and that therefore the invention is not limited to the specific details shown and described.

I'he invention having thus been described, what is claimed. is:

1. A connector for exible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, and latching means embedded in said body for interlocking engagement withcomplementary latching means on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the connectors apart, said latching means being positioned in interlocking alignment with the complementary latching means when said terminals are in engaging alignment with their complementary terminals, and l supported in such alignment by said body so as to necessitate movement out of such alignment against the resilient resistance oi said body during the approach thereof to interlocking position.

2. A connector for flexible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, a metallic anchoring means anchored to said body and the cable, and latching means secured to said anchoring member for interlocking engagement with complementary latching means 'on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the connectors apart, said latching means being positioned in interlocking alignment withv the complementary latching'means when said terminals are in engaging alignment with their complementary terminals, and supported in such alignment by said body so as to necessitate movement out of such alignment against the resilient resistance of said body during the approach thereof to interlocking position.

3. A connector lfor exible'conductor cables, y comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or\ when said terminals are in engaging augment with their complementary terminals, and supported Ain such alignment by said body so as to necessitate movement out of such alignment against the resilient resistance of said body durgagement with each other, and those devices are securely anchored so as to withstand a heavy pull on the cable without subjecting the parts of features or subcombinations thereof may -be useful by themselves without references to other features or the complete combination, and that the employment of such individual features or subcombinations is contemplated bythis invention when within the scope of the appended ing the approach thereof to interlocking position.

4. A connector for flexible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, one or more circuit accessories connected with said terminals and embedded in said body, latching means anchored within said body for interlocking engagement with complementary latching means on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the connectors apart, and anchorage means for said latching means anchored -to said body beyond said accessories ltoward the cable.

5. A connector for flexible conductor cables,

comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, one or more circuit accessories connected with said terminals and embedded in said body,

latching means arranged for interlocking engagement with complementary latching means on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the connectors apart, and anchorage means for said latching means anchored to said body beyond said accessoriesd toward the cable, said latehing means being in interlocking alignment with the complementary latching means when said terminals are in engaging alignment with their complementary terminals and supported in such alignment by said body so as to necessitate movement out o'f such alignment against the resilient resistance of said body during the approach thereof to interlocking position.

6., A connector for exible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, and a latch pin anchored centrally in said body andwinsulated thereby from the cable conductors, extending axially thereofand having anl gularly offset faces providing therebetween an anguiar shoulder adapted for engagement with a similar shoulder ona complementary connector to prevent the connectors being pulled apart, said angular shoulder being in interlocking alignment with said complementary shoulder when said terminals are in engaging alignment-witlri their complementary terminals and supported in such alignment by said body so as to necessitate movement out of such alignment against the resilient resistance of said body, during the approach to or departure from the aforesaid interlocking position.

7.-A connector for ilexible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or lmore plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, and latching means arranged for interlocking engagement with complementary latching said parts out of their interfering positions against the resilient resistance of said body in order to move said latching means into latching, engagement.

- 8. -A connector for exible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals embedded in said body, latching means arranged for interlocking engagement with complementary latching means more plug-socket terminals molded inv said body,

latching means arranged for interlocking .engagement with'ccmplementary latching means on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the 4 connectors apart, an anchoring yoke molded in said body, and secured to said latching means,

and means securing said yoke to a tension member within the cable.

10. A connector for flexible conductor cables, comprising, a resilient rubber-like body, one or more plug-socket terminals molded in said body,

latching means arranged for interlocking engageing means on a complementary connector to pre- Y vent pulling the connectors apart, said latching means having parts interfering with similar parts on said complementary means necessitating forcment with complementary latching means on a complementary connector to prevent pulling the connectors apart, an anchoring yoke molded xn i said body, and a clamping collar anchored to said yoke and surrounding the cable and having means for clamping a tension member within the cable.

JAMES B. MLLER. JAMES H. SIMPSON. 

